I am the researcher on a project being carried out by Loughborough
University for the Library & Information Commission to investigate the
economic value of public libraries.
The project will look at the whole entity of public library services,
including fiction loans, practical information, local history collections,
etc. The benefit of this research will be to provide a better
understanding of the value of public library and information services in
economic terms - for policymakers to consider alongside political, cultural
and social factors. In particular there will be a new perspective on the
relative value of recreational versus educational values and on the
relative value of various types of information provided.
A widespread examination of available material has revealed some
interesting data, but there are some gaps which I am anxious to fill, and I
wonder if you can help.
Has your authority undertaken, or do you know of anyone who has undertaken,
any work on identifying the costs to the library service of providing
various functions - book lending, av, video, reference, children's etc.?
If so, please mail me at [log in to unmask]
Any help gratefully received.
Margaret Hawkins
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